Day 8 -- HCG Diet

Eureka! I am losing weight, folks!

I am so happy to see minor changes occur! Though I don't see anything drastic, I do feel lighter (may be mental?) and am starting to feel like this is possible. For years now, I would lose a few pounds here and there after running/training for races, then go right back to emotionally eating at my desk job. I am happy to see that I am jump starting my system into a more healthy weight and way of living.

• Total weight lost = 5.2 lbs (2.6 lost yesterday!)
• Take measurements of my waist, arm & thigh = check
• Chest: -1.5in
• Arms: -1 in
• Waist: Remained the same
• Thighs: +0.8 in
• Abiding by daily doses of HCG drops = check
• Cups of water consumed today = 0 (currently drinking herbal tea with breakfast)
• Any aches or pains? No, just occasional hunger
• Any cheating = Half of a bagel, nothing on it

Now if only I could stop focusing on my diet and work on my book!

Day 6 -- HCG Diet

Earlier this morning, I daydreamed smelling Cinnamon Raisin Bagels.

When one "daydreams a smell", it is when you are suddenly hit with a fabricated scent that your brain is sending to your nostrils. I literally sat at my desk and had to convince myself that there were no bagels around and that it was all in my head even though I actually could taste it in my mind.

It is funny how powerful the mind can be when you are on a low-calorie, very strict diet. But overall, I am feeling well. I feel hungry at times but not horribly starving nor do I have my usual headache that accompanies my hunger. I did a little exercise on Sunday and felt great afterwards and generally have been monitoring my food intake, trying to stay within the guidelines of this madness. But I must admit that I am enjoying finding creative ways of cooking without certain ingredients (no oil with the Tilapia? Use Chardonnay!) and find that once I can get passed the breakfast hunger, that lunch and dinner becomes easier! 39 days left!

Updates:

• Weight lost thus far = 3.6 lbs since Saturday (today is Tuesday)
• Take measurements of my waist, arm & thigh = To be done on Thursday
• Abiding by daily doses of HCG drops = check
• Any aches or pains? Nope, just occasional hunger
• Cups of water today thus far = 2
• Any cheating = Burger bun on Sunday, 1 beer*, Sprite (with my vodka)

*I'm not sure if beer is allowed; I will have to research this.

Day 1 -- HCG Diet

I have a new respect for those dieters on those late night commercials that offer up their pre- and post- diet figures in pictures for the nation to see. I had to take pictures of myself this morning and would dare not post them on this blog, much less for television viewers! How do they muster up the courage to do it?!

Today I began the HCG Diet. It is a low-calorie intake, very strict diet that will last for a minimum of 15 days but a maximum of 45 days. I am shooting for 45. The only reason I may cut this short is due to an upcoming trip to Las Vegas. I just might need all of my calories for that trip...

As the saying goes, so far so good! But then again, today and tomorrow are the "indulge days": I get to load up on all of the carbs, sugars, bad-for-you pizza and late-night-ice cream cravings I want! Come day 3, I may be singing a different tune, we will see.

Today's tasks:

• Weigh myself in the morning = check
• Take measurements of my waist, arm & thigh = check
• Take the daily dose of HCG Diet drops = check*
• Any aches or pains? Minimal stomach cramping that lasted 3-5 minutes
• Drink lots of water = check
• Eat lots of crap = check

Yup...so far, so good!

*My third dose of drops are to be taken this evening

Divas 1/2 Marathon

After a cold, bleak two days, my mother & I ran the Divas 1/2 Marathon on a beautiful Sunday morning in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We were up before the sun along with 4,400 other anxious women to embark on 13.1 fairly flat miles.

This year began with a turbulent take-off. Now it feels like this ride I am on has leveled off and is coasting in the right direction, beginning with this past weekend's difficult but fun race with my mother, almost exactly two months after the death of my father:

Another Moment in Monique's Mind...

Finding the motivation to write when you feel mentally exhausted is difficult. Finding the words to articulate what your already mentally exhausted self is feeling, well, that's a challenge.

Lately I've been wondering what my motivation has been behind certain decisions that I've made. The other day, I sat on my couch and stared at my television. Not because I was watching anything interesting but because I did not have the energy nor the desire to get up and do anything else. Instead of being productive or doing things of value around my house or with myself, I have been simply existing. I feel like I'm in a slump. A grim, empty slump to be exact.

This weekend, I hope to turn this continuing nose-dive into an ascension of positive growth. I am running the Divas 1/2 Marathon Race in Myrtle Beach, SC with my mother. Though I haven't been training as often as I should have been, I am still excited to attend this race and hopeful that it will give me the push I need to get my mind back on track. For the past month and 26 days have created this fog that just sits over me. It literally just SITS there! I don't know when the sun is going to peek through; I don't know if it's going to rain. I just walk around with it draping its dreary sentiments over me and frankly, it's time to part the clouds. I have a great life that is exciting and fun and I am missing it. I am blessed to have wonderful people in my life and I am missing them. It is time for a change.

Undesired

Yesterday I read a list of the Best Cities for Women on the Huffington Post. The city I reside in was not on the list at all. The criteria was based on educational attainment, annual salary and life expectancy. Ouch. That's three fourths of the areas I deem quite important! Thankfully the fourth area, "dating life", was not included on the list. Then again, maybe that's not a good thing...

A part of me wonders if Charlotte, NC would have made the cut if the Huffington Post list focused on or included dating. The other part of me KNOWS that the 'Queen City' certainly would not have made the cut if I had to judge from my own personal experience. Sorry fellas, but it is true.

Charlotte is a nice city to live in for the most part. I used to detest this place having relocated against my will from Miami, but over the years I have seen a growth in a positive direction...a growth that has rendered me stationary since 1994.